Starting this December, women in Saudi Arabia will be able to vote and run for office

For the first time ever, this December, women in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to vote and run for office in the country's municipal elections.

This law was first granted and passed by Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in 2011.

Local Arab media estimates that approximately 70 women are planning to run as candidates and an additional 80 women have registered as campaign managers.

Fawzia Abu Khalid, a political sociologist at King Saud University in Riyadh told Al Jazeera that this decision reflects a broader change in Saudi Arabia's view of women's rights, saying:

"I think there is a realization from different groups, including the conservative groups, that what happened in the past, where their voice was the only representation in society, would no longer continue."
Fawzia Abu Khalid, political sociologist at King Saud University

Although this is a big step, many still question this move's ability to bring real change to a country where women's activities are heavily restricted.